Astronomy:Megaclite

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Megaclite
Megaclite-Jewitt-CFHT-annotated.gif
Megaclite imaged by the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope in December 2001
Discovery [1]
Discovered byScott S. Sheppard
David C. Jewitt
Yanga R. Fernandez
Eugene A. Magnier
Discovery siteMauna Kea Observatory
Discovery date25 November 2000
Designations
Designation
Jupiter XIX
Pronunciation/mɛɡəˈklt/
Named afterΜεγακλειτή Megaclītē
S/2000 J 8
AdjectivesMegaclitean /ˌmɛɡəklɪˈtən/
Orbital characteristics[2]
Epoch 27 April 2019 (JD 2458600.5)
Observation arc16.26 yr (5,938 days)
0.1586666 astronomical unit|AU (23,736,190 km)
Eccentricity0.4102170
Orbital period–747.09 d
Mean anomaly269.64681°
Mean motion0° 28m 54.732s / day
Inclination143.20224° (to ecliptic)
Longitude of ascending node356.52408°
8.71854°
Satellite ofJupiter
GroupPasiphae group
Physical characteristics[4]
Mean diameter≈ 6 km
Albedo0.04 (assumed)
Apparent magnitude21.7[3]
Absolute magnitude (H)15.0[2]


Megaclite /mɛɡəˈklt/, also known as Jupiter XIX, is a natural satellite of Jupiter. It was discovered by a team of astronomers from the University of Hawaii led by Scott S. Sheppard in 2000, and given the temporary designation S/2000 J 8.[5][1][6]

Megaclite is about 6 kilometres in diameter, and orbits Jupiter at an average distance of 24,687,000 kilometers in 747.09 days, at an inclination of 150° to the ecliptic (148° to Jupiter's equator), in a retrograde direction and with an eccentricity of 0.308.

It was named in October 2002 after Megaclite, mother by Zeus (Jupiter) of Thebe and Locrus in Greek mythology.[7][8]

It belongs to the Pasiphae group, irregular retrograde moons orbiting Jupiter at distances ranging between 22.8 and 24.7 Gm, and with inclinations ranging between 144.5° and 158.3°. However, while Pasiphae is gray (B−V=0.74, V−R=0.38, V−I=0.74) in color, Megaclite is light red (B−V=0.94, V−R=0.41, V−I=1.05) and come similar to Callirrhoe.[9]

Animation of Megaclite's orbit from 1900 to 2100
Polar view
Equatorial view
   Jupiter ·   Megaclite

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 MPEC 2001-A29: S/2000 J 7, S/2000 J 8, S/2000 J 9, S/2000 J 10, S/2000 J 11 2001 January 15 (discovery and ephemeris)
  2. 2.0 2.1 "M.P.C. 115890". Minor Planet Circular. Minor Planet Center. 27 August 2019. https://minorplanetcenter.net/iau/ECS/MPCArchive/2019/MPC_20190827.pdf. 
  3. Sheppard, Scott. "Scott S. Sheppard - Jupiter Moons". Department of Terrestrial Magnetism. Carnegie Institution for Science. https://sites.google.com/carnegiescience.edu/sheppard/moons/jupitermoons. 
  4. "Planetary Satellite Physical Parameters". Jet Propulsion Laboratory. 19 February 2015. https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/?sat_phys_par#jupiter. 
  5. IAUC 7555: Satellites of Jupiter 2001 January 5 (discovery)
  6. MPEC 2001-T59: S/2000 J 8, S/2000 J 9, S/2000 J 10 2001 October 15 (revised ephemeris)
  7. IAUC 7998: Satellites of Jupiter 2002 October 22 (naming the moon "Magaclite")
  8. IAUC 8023: Satellites of Jupiter 2002 November 29 (correcting the name)
  9. Grav, Tommy; Holman, M. J.; Gladman, B. J.; Aksnes, K. (2003). "Photometric survey of the irregular satellites". Icarus 166 (1): 33–45. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2003.07.005. Bibcode2003Icar..166...33G.